Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
14:52
Re-Arterialized Rat Partial Liver Transplantation with an in vivo Vessel-Oriented 70% Hepatectomy
Published on: April 8, 2018
International sharing of split liver grafts in Asia: initial experience
V H de Villa1, C L Chen, Y S Chen
1Liver Transplant Program, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan.
Clinical Transplantation
|August 17, 2000
Summary
Sharing split liver grafts between countries in Asia is feasible, addressing donor shortages. This strategy can increase organ availability for liver transplantation, benefiting more patients in the region.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Transplantation Surgery
- Organ Donation
Background:
- The critical shortage of deceased organ donors in Asia significantly hinders liver transplantation progress.
- Increasing demand necessitates living donor liver transplantation for both pediatric and adult recipients.
- Split liver allografts offer a viable strategy to expand organ supply, particularly for smaller transplant programs with limited resources.
Observation:
- The first instance of international split liver graft sharing in Asia occurred in January 1999, involving Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- A donor liver was split ex vivo, with one segment transplanted in Taiwan and the other transported to Hong Kong for a separate recipient.
- Both recipients experienced excellent initial graft function, with the Taiwanese patient discharged without complications.
Findings:
- Despite an early postoperative complication (cerebrovascular accident and bile leak) in the Hong Kong recipient, both patients survived and showed good graft function 11 months post-transplant.
- The successful international sharing of a split liver graft demonstrated the feasibility of this approach in the Asian region.
- This initiative highlights the potential for establishing a formal organ-sharing network across Asia.
Implications:
- International collaboration and established trust among transplant teams are crucial for the success of graft-multiplying strategies.
- This model can significantly enhance organ availability and improve liver transplant outcomes in regions facing donor shortages.
- The successful sharing of split liver grafts paves the way for more organized and widespread organ donation networks in Asia.
